Tuxedo Needed for USNA?

Mom529

10-Year Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2013
Messages
249
Hello everyone,

My husband has an event he needs a tuxedo for, and he can't decide if he wants to buy one. Will there ever be an occasion for USNA as a parent that he may need one? I think in days-gone-by there may have been more formal events, so I've heard. Any info would be appreciated. Thank you.
 
Hello everyone,

My husband has an event he needs a tuxedo for, and he can't decide if he wants to buy one. Will there ever be an occasion for USNA as a parent that he may need one? I think in days-gone-by there may have been more formal events, so I've heard. Any info would be appreciated. Thank you.
Parents sometimes attend the Graduation Week Ball, when a tuxedo is nice but I more often see men wearing a dark suit. Can't think of anything else. Save the money for the Mid Store and get the stuff he will wear way more often. Everyone needs multiple pairs of Bill the Goat socks.
 
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Capt MJ is spot on for USNA events. If you like to attend those kinds of events its there commissioning week. Also most Parent's Clubs put on a formal Xmas party over the holidays for SA kids, alumni, parents, etc. They can get pricey at sometimes $50-100 a ticket on top of other costs (dark suits are also acceptable and the norm at many and dresses and if far enough away hotel rooms add to the total). Some of them can get very formal if you wish to attend. I never attended a single one, but some folks I know went every year and loved it.
 
Depending on where you live, your local parents' group may participate in an annual Joint Service Academies Military Ball. Our area Ball gave my husband 4 opportunities to wear his tux. Although some men wore suits to the Ball, the vast majority at our Ball did wear a tux. My husband already had a tux due to other work events that required a tux, but even if he didn't already have one, renting one 4 years in a row would have cost as much as buying one. Just something you may want to consider. (Of course, not all areas have a formal Ball and some cadets don't want to go even if their area does have one. However - I highly recommend attending if your area does have one! Once most cadets attend one, they realize how much fun they are and are happy to keep attending every year.) Also - FYI - my husband has had his tux for over 20 years and it's still in style - they don't seem to change much!
 
Think ahead to after commissioning about the Navy or Marine Balls, we've gone to the Navy Ball with our Sea Cadets the past 3 years....hubby finally bought a tux this year instead of renting for the third time, haha!
 
Balls on active duty are slightly different. First off they are different and on the Navy side tend to be very service specific. Some are only for service members and others are for guests too. But remember Mom and Dad only get to go to those if they invite you. And remember they eventually get spouses and boyfriends/girlfriends! I have had friends bring their parents to the Marine Corps ball, but its usually a one time thing. They tend to bring their kids the year before their retirement so they could experience it once.
 
If you do decide to purchase it might be useful to buy a used one from a tux rental shop. You can usually get a deal. We needed to buy a tux for my son, as he was growing up, two or three times and it paid off every time.
 
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